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Noun: gladiolus (gladioli,gladioluses)  ,gla-dee'ow-lus
  1. Any of numerous plants of the genus Gladiolus native chiefly to tropical and South Africa having sword-shaped leaves and one-sided spikes of brightly coloured funnel-shaped flowers; widely cultivated
    "Tall gladioli added vertical interest to the flower bed";
    - gladiola, glad [informal], sword lily
     
  2. The large central part of the breastbone
    "The gladiolus is where most of the ribs attach to the sternum";
    - corpus sternum

Derived forms: gladioluses, gladioli

Type of: bone, iridaceous plant, os[2]

Part of: breastbone, genus Gladiolus, sternum

Encyclopedia: Gladiolus